XLIFF 2 files (XML Localization Interchange Format version 2.x)

XLIFF (XML Localization Interchange File Format) is an XML-based format created to standardize the way localizable data are passed between tools during translation and localization. It's also a common format for translation tools.

XLIFF files are bilingual - XLIFF is not a source document format. The files contain entire segments, similarly to the way memoQ shows them in the translation editor. There is status information; there are tags; and match rates may also be saved. In addition, the XLIFF file may contain "skeleton" data, required to export translated documents. But if the XLIFF file comes from a different tool, memoQ can't interpret the skeleton data.

memoQ can pick up preview information from XLIFF files:

In XLIFF 2 files, preview IDs can be in an attribute of the <group>, <unit>, or <segment> element, or in a newly defined child element of these elements.

XLIFF is a standard: XLIFF was standardized by OASIS in 2002. Its current specification is v2.1, released on 2018-02-13.

XLIFF 1 and XLIFF 2 files are not compatible. To import XLIFF 1 files, use the XLIFF 1 filter.

Use this filter to import XLIFF 2 files from different tools: When you receive an XLIFF 2 file that was saved in another translation tool, use this filter to import it.

XLIFF comes in, XLIFF goes out: After memoQ imports an XLIFF file from a different tool, it can export an XLIFF file only. memoQ can't export the translation in the original format: for that, you need the original tool.

In this window, you can set up how memoQ imports XLIFF 2 files. To keep things simple, we'll call them "XLIFF files" when the difference between versions is not important.

How to get here

  1. Start importing an XLIFF 2 file.
  2. In the Document import options window, select the XLIFF 2 files, and click Change filter and configuration.
  3. The Document import settings window appears. From the Filter dropdown, choose XLIFF 2 filter.

    Document import settings window showing Xliff 2 filter selected and the General tab opened. Under the tab, there are Languages, Whitespace, Export Options, and Segmentation. In the bottom-left corner, there are OK, Cancel, and Help buttons.

What can you do?

When you finish

In the Document import options window: Click OK again to start importing the documents.

  • If this is a cascading filter, you can change the settings of another filter in the chain: Click the name of the filter at the top of the window.